Loose leaf binder



Sep@ my w33. C, DAWSQN m2791313 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filedpril 29 1951 Patented Sept. 19, 1933 PliriiNr OFFICE 11,927,113 Y LOOSE LEAF BINDER i James C. Dawson, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to Elma N. Dawson, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application April 29, 193.1. Serial No. `533,714

` 3 claims. (o1. 12s-24) This invention relates to loose leaf binders and has for its objects to provide means for easy and instant assembly of booster lever to the binder mechanism, and to retain the levers in position after assembly.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the specification and the appended drawing in which Fig. l is a vertical, longitudinal section through 10 a portion of the loose leaf binderl equipped with a preferred form of booster;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through a loose leaf binder equipped with an alternative form of booster lever; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the binder shown f in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the binder shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, transverse section on the '20 line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing in detail the preferred form of booster lever and toggle plate latch;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing in detail the alternative form of lever and retainer; and

Fig. 8 is a further modication .of the form of lever illustrated in Fig. 7.

The loose leaf binder illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the well known spring back toggle plate typel which comprises a book cover l0 to which is afa back plate 11 having a plurality of struckup loops 12.A The spring back of the binder, illustrated at 13, is provided with an aperture 14 giving clearance to the loop 12. The binder mechanisrn is held assembled to the back by means ofv a key l5 which passes under the loop and over the spring back. The toggle plates 16 and 17, bearing the pairs of paper-holding prongs 18, are held in engagement by the articulating buttons 19 and are gripped on their outer edges by the levers to the binder whenever desired by the following means:

The toggle plates 16 and 17 bear a latch-like extension 22, 22 formed upon their ends. The latch comprises a narrow necked portion 23, a

head 24, and a bevelled nose 25 cut at a sharp angle to the longitudinal axis of the toggle plates. The booster lever 26 has a thumb arm 27, a body portion 28, and a toggle-operating arm 29. As indica-ced in Fig. e, the body portion 28 bears 60 two slots 40, 40 which are designed to engage the latches 2,2, respectively.

In assembly, the booster levers are placed in a position in advance of that shown in Figs. 3 and 5 with the bevelled nose 25 engaging the 65 inner Wall of the slots 40 and the operating lever 29 under the toggle plates, as indicated in Fig. 5. A sharp tap on the booster lever forces the toggle plates 16 and 17 apart against the tension of the spring 13 and finally, as the booster lever is 7 forced inwardly, the nose of the latch clears the slots 40 and the plates then come together with their latches extending past the outer face 30 of the body portion 28 of the booster lever. The booster lever then cannot be disassembled from 7 the apparatus without prying the plates apart, and, as indicated by the gures, the lever is fulcrumed upon the neck 23 and the upper margin of the slot 40.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 8.0- and 7, the toggle plates 3l, 31, have their end portions cut to provide slots 32, 32, bevels 54, 54 and fingers 42, 42. The booster lever 33 comprises a thumb arm 34, a body portion 35, an inwardly extending toggle-operating arm 36, and 815 an upwardly extending retainer 37 which terminates in a sector-shaped head 38.

The assembly of this device may be as follows: The toggle plates 31, 31 are mounted with their 9o outer margins engaged by the spring back 39. The booster lever 33 is then placed with the slots or notches 41, 41 in line with the small ngers 42, 42 and with the retainer 37 bearing against the bevels 54, 54 at the ends of the toggle plates.

A sharp tap on the booster will force it to the assembled position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

A pair of duck-bill pliers or a special assembly tool may be used to separate the adjacent edges of the plates 31, 31, if desired; in which case, less 100 force will emplace the boosters.

The body portion 35 of the Fig. 2 modication is eliminated in the type of booster illustrated in Fig. 8. This lever comprises a slightly curved thumb arm 44 having an extension 45 which pro- 105 trudes beneath the cover plate 21. The end of this extension is turned downwardly at 46 leaving a small vertical arm 47 which terminates, as in the prior form of lever in the sector-shaped head 48. The toggle plates 49, 49 may be the same as those illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 7.

center articulated toggle plates bearing paper.V

holding prongs, a spring engaging the plates and normally urging the prongs into engagement, a latch upon the terminus of each toggle plate, a booster lever having a thumb arm, a vertical arm and a toggle plate operating arm, and a Wedge face upon the latches adapted to engage the sides of the vertical arm and to force the toggleVV plates outwardly against pressure of the spring in the initial assembly of the apparatus.

2. A loose leaf binder having a pair of articulated toggle plates maintained in engagement by spring means, a transverse slot in each plate adjacent one end, said end of each plate being cut at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof to form a wedge, and a booster lever which, in cooperation with the Wedge, is adapted to force the plates apart upon initial assembly and to be engaged by the 'Walls of the slots to maintain the booster in assembled position.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of slotted dead-center articulated toggle plates bearing paper holding prongs and having Wedge faces adjacent to their ends, a spring engaging thev ou-ter edgesV of the plates and normally urging Vthe adjacent edges together, a booster lever lulcrumed upon the toggle plates and adapted to cooperate With the Wedge faces to force the plates apart against the resistance of the spring in the initial assembly.

JAMES C. DAWSON. 

